Closure and spout for containers



July 15, 1941.

J. H. MORRISON CLOSURE AND SPOU'I FOR CONTAINERS Filed Nov. 17, 1939 J 3 Sweets-sheaf l v lllllfllllllflfill Jul 15, 1941- J. H. MORRISON 2,249,574

CLOSURE AND SPOUT FOR' CONTAINERS Filed Nov. 17, 1939 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1941- J. H. MORRISON 2,249,574

CLOSURE AND SPOUT FOR CONTAINERS Filed Nv. 17, 1939 s Sheets- Sheet s H45 1 16.17 9 5 Ma j 21%. 19

Wyn/me java/ 74 .mm

Patented July 191i CLOSURE AND SPOUT FOR CONTAINERS James H. Morrison, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to The McCass Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application November 17,1939, Serial No. 304,961

5 Claims.

My invention relates to dispensing containers and more particularly to a novel form of combined closure and spout for use on such containers. v

In addition to the many foods, household commodities and the like sold in disposable paper containers, many additional products of this nature are now being marketed in this manner rather than using the heavier and more costly glass containers. Milk, for example. is now being packaged in paper containers to eliminate the necessity of washing, handling and ret w v :1 the empty milk bottles. The marketing of liquid food stuffs, as well as other pourable coodities in paper containers has involved the problem of providing such a container from which the contents can be conveniently poured and yet provide such a container which can be properly closm after each pouring to protect the contents until the container is empty.

An object of my invention is to provide a device for use on a container which is adapted to ade-= quately close the container and also form a pouring spout when thecontainer is opened.

A further object is to provide such a device in which the pouring spout is automatically brought into position in response to the removal of the closure means from the outlet of the con-.

tainer.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel form of collapsible spout which may be readily brought into operative pouring position or retracted into inoperative position.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the follo description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 7

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing con tainer on which a preferred embodiment of the combined closure and spout of my invention is mounted.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 2'-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 are similar to Fig. 3 and show successive stages in the procedure of moving the device of my invention from the closed position shown in Fig. 3 to the open or pouring position shown in Figs. 5, 8 and 9.

Fig. 6 illustrates the shape of the blank 0! a portion of the device of my invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line l-l of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Fig. 1 showing the device of my invention as it appears when in pouring position.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8. t

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a container upon which a modified form of container closure and spout for my device is mounted.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line ll-H of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 but taken on the line i2--i2 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line i3i3 of Fi 12.

Fig. 14 is a detail view showing the shape of the blank used to form a portion of the apparatus disclosed in Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the first step in opening the container shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 15

showing the device as it appears when fully open to pouring position.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a container upon which another modified form of a container closure and spout forming device of my invention ismounted.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line ,lS-lt of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a view similar to'Fig. 18 but taken on the line it-it of Fig. 24 and showing the device in open pouring position.

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line til-2t of Fig. 18.

Fig. 21 is a view similar to Fig. 20 showing the device in open pouring position.

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2222' of Fig. 21.

Fig. 23 is a view showing the shape of the blank of a portion of the device shown in Fig. 20. v

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Fig. 17 showing the device in open pouring position.

Referring specifically to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, this embodiment including a closure and spout forming device it mounted,

Superimposed on the front wall It of the container H is a secondary wall 22 having side flanges 23 which overlie and are sealed on the sides l2 and ends I4 and I5 of the container ll.

Formed on the secondary wall 22 is a circular forming means 66 for a container 6|.

22 in concentric relation with the bead 25 is an arcuete slot 36.

Extending through the wall 22 in concentric relation with the arcuate slot 36 is a rivet 33 upon which the closure and spout forming device I6 is rotatably mounted. The device I6 is preferably made of tough paper and includes a blank- B as shown in Fig. 6. The blank 13 includes a portion 35 having a tab 36 formed on one edge thereof. A hole 31 is formed through the blank B in concentric relation with the arcuate periphcry of the portion 35. Indicated at 38 is a cut extending inward to a point 39 disposed adjacent the hole 31. Spout forming portions 46 and 4| are defined by folding lines 42, 43 and 44 which radiate from the point 39. Arcuate edges 45 and 46 of the portions 46 and 4| are concentric with the hole 31 when the portions 46 and 4| are folded on the lines 42, 43 and 44 into overlapping relation as shown in Fig. 3. Between the cut 38 and folding line 44. is a portion 48 providing a stop as described hereinafter. The device 16 is positioned between the front wall E5 of the container H and the secondary wall 22 as seen in Fig. 2 with the tab 36 thereof extending through the arcuate slot 36 of the wall 22.

Mounted on the wa1l |6 as seen in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 'l is a sling 56 positioned to receive the portion 48 of the blank B.

Operation To open the container II the portion 28 is first torn from. the wall 22 thus providing an opening 52 as seen in Figs. 8 and 9 and exposing the portion 35 of the blank B. The tab 36 is then manually moved leftward in the direction indicated by the arrow A of Fig. 4. When the device I6 has moved from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4, movement of the portion 46 thereof is arrested by the sling 56. At this moment the overlapping spou't forming portions 46 and 4| are disposed in alignmentwith the opening 52 of the wall 22. Continued movement of the tab 36- causes the portions 46 and 4| to expand through the opening 52 to form the spout S shown in Figs. 5, 8 and 9. The final operation in opening the container II is to force the portion l8 of the wall 16 inward as seen in Fig. 9 or tear the portion l8 from the wall l6, to provide the aforementioned opening I6. The portion I8 is preferably provided when the container is used for liquids. When packaging dry commodities, a hole (not shown) may be providecl in the wall I6 in place of the removable portion l8.

To close the container II, the tab 36 is returned to its original position as shown in Fig. 1 causing the portions 46 and 4| of the spout S to be refolded into overlapping position in which they are shown in Fig. 3. This closing operation also brings the portion 35 of the blank B into closing relation with the aligned openings l9 and 52 of the walls l6 and 22 respectively.

The container is thus readily closed to efiectively protect the remaining contents thereof.

Referring now to Figs. 10 to 16 of the drawings, I have shown therein a modified form of my invention which includes a closure and spout The container 6| is preferably of cylindrical form including a side wall 62, a bottom wall 63 and a top wall 64, the latter having an outlet opening 65 formed therethrough as shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 16. Formed around the side wall 62, adjacent the top wall 64 of the container 6|, is a. circular groove 61 as seen in Figs. 11 and 12. R0- tatably mounted on the top of the container 6| is a cap 68, the latter being cut on lines 66 and perforated on a line 16 as shown in Fig. 10

Y to provide a removable portion II which may be forming member 11, the latter including a segmental portion 16 having flaps l9 and -86 formed on opposite sides thereof along folding lines 6| and 62 as seen in Fig. 14.

To mount the member 11, the flap I6 is turned under the ortion 18 and secured to the container top 64 adjacent one edge of the opening 65 as seen in Fig. 13. The other flap 66 is bent along the line 82 into superposed relation with the portion 16, this flap being secured to one edge of the removable portion ll of the cap as seen in Figs. 12, 15 and 16.

Operation Prior to opening, the container 6| appears as shown in Fig. 10 with the removable portion 1| pressed into theopening 12 so as to collapse the spout forming member 16 as seen in Fig. 12. To open the container 6| the portion TI is manually lifted from the opening 12 to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 15. The cap 66 is then rotated in th direction indicated by the arrow A of Fig. 16 to bring the opening 12 of the cap 68 into alignment with the opening 65 of the top wall 64 'of the container 6|, Theportion ll of the cap 66 and the portion 16 of the spout forming member 11 are spread as seen in Fi 16 to form a pouring spout S.

To close the container 6| after a pouring operation the cap 68 is again rotated from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 16 to that shown in Fig. 15 to. collapse the spout S. The collapsed spout is then swung downward into opening 12 and the portion 1 I, when pressed into this opening, closes the container and retains the collapsed spout therebeneath.

Reference is now made to Figs. 17 to 24 inclusive of the drawings in which I have shown a third modified form 96 of container closure and spout forming device of my invention. The device 96 is shown mounted on a container 9| having a front wall 92 as seen in Figs.18 and 19, side walls 93, end walls 64 and a rear wall 66. The front wall 92, as seen in Figs. 18 and 19, is suitably perforated to provide a flap 91 which may be pushed inward to form an outlet opening 68 as described hereinafter. Superposed on the front wall 92 in spaced relation therewith is a secondary wall I66 having flanges |6| at its sides,

these flanges being secured to the sides and end walls of the container N. The secondary wall I is cut on lines I02 and I03 and perforated along a line I, as seen in Fig. 17, to provide a portion I05 which may be swung outward from the wall Hill to provide an opening I" as hereinafter described. The closure and spout forming device 90 is formed from a blank llli as seen is a smaller semi-circular portion ill, the latter including three segmental portions 5, H6, and

ill these being defined by folding lines 8, H9, I25 andacut m,

The device 0 is mounted between the front wall 82 of the container 9! and the secondary wall I00 in the following manner: The semi-circular portion 4 is folded along the line 8 and cut I into the positionin which it is shown in Fig. in overlying relation with the semicircular portion lll. The portion ill of the smaller semi-circular portion lid is fixed on to the inside surface of the portion I05 of the secondary wall lit as by gluing or th like. The portion lid is glued against the semi-circular portion Hi there being a cord i secured between the portion lll and the portion 5 at the time these are fixed together. The cord I25 extends downward irom the device lid and passes through a suitable opening E28 provided in the secondary wall its, the opening 826 being reinforced by an eyelet 82?.

Operation To open the container ti the portion its is swung outwardly from the wall led into the position in which it is shown in Figs. 22 and 24. As the portion it? of the device are is fixed on the portion its of the wall its, outward movement.

of the portion its causes the portions I it and All of the device lid to be drawn outward through the opening its of the wall lflli thus forming a spout S" as shown in Fig. 24. This tion to protect the contents thereof. Although i have shown and described but one preferred and two modified forms 01 the device or my inven tion, it is to be understood that various modifications and changes might be made therein without departing irom the spirit or the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. Means taming a combined closure and pouring spout tor a container, said container having an outlet opening formed in a wall thereof, said means comprising: a member rotatably -mounted on said wall: a closure portion on said member for closing said opening; a collapsible spout formed by folding a pair oi segmental portions of said member into superposed relation and folding said superposed portions flat against said member, said closure portionbeing moved out of closing relation with said opening in re sponse to rotation 0! said member; and stop means'for arresting rotation of the portion of said member adjacent one side or said collapsible spout while permitting continued rotation of the portion of said member adjacent the opposite side of said spout, said spout being expanded into operative position in alignment with said opening in response to said continued rotation following the arrest of movement oi said portion by said stop means.

2. Means forming a combined closure and pouring spout for a container, said container having an outlet opening formed in a given wall thereof, said means comprising: a secondary wall superposed over said given wall, said secondary wall having an opening aligning with the opening of said given wall; a member rotatably mounted between said given d said secondary walls; a closure portion on said member ior closing said wall openings; a collapsible spout formed operation rotates the device lid from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 20 to that shown in Fig.2i. As seen in Figs. 19, 21, 22 and 24, when the device 8 ill is thus moved into operative positionthe opening N2 of the device 5 iii is disposed in alignment with the flap er of the wall t2 and the opening tee of the secondary well let. The final step in opening the container ti is to press the flap till inward to the position in which it'is seen in Fig. 19. After the pouring operation, the container at is again closed-by pulling on the cord 625 which rotates the device lid clock-wise as viewed in Fig. 21 to the position in which the device is shown in Fig. 20. The portion I05 is drawn inward toward the wall its in response to pulling the cord ti t and the final step in closin the container at is to press the portion Wt into the opening we of the secondary wall ltd When in closed position after once being opened the ope as of the front wall as of the container ill is closed by the portion ill of the devic H0 as seen in Fig. 20.

It is thus seen that the preferred and modified forms of my invention provide simpleand effective means for closing a container and providing a spout which greatly facilitates pouring the contents from the container. It is further seen that .my invention provides means whereby a containby folding a pair of segmental portions or said member into superposed relation and folding said superposed portions flat w said member, said closure portion being moved out of closing relation with said openings in response to rotatation of said member; and stop means for arresting rotation of the portion oi said member adjacent one side of said collapsedspout while permitting continued rotation oi the portion of said member adjacent the opposite side oi said spout, said spout beg expanded into operative position in aligent with said openings in response to said continued rotation following the arrest of movement or said portion by said stop means.

3. In a container for pour-able material, the

. combination oi: an element rotatably mounted v spout associated with said giv wall and said on a given wall of said coner, said given wall having an opening formed therethrough, said element being rotatable in a plane parallel with the plane of said given wall; and a ioldable pouring rotatable element, said spout ing folded into inoperative position. in response to rotation of said element.

4. In a container for pourable material, the combination of: an element rotatably mounted on a given wall or said container, said wall having an outlet opening formed therethrough, said element being rotatable in a plane parallel with the plane of said wall and adapted to cover and uncover said outlet opening; and-a ioldabie pouring spout associated with said given wall and said rotatable element, said spout, when inoperative, being normally folded flat against said well and unfolded into pouring relation with said outi let opening when said outlet opening is uncovered by said rotatable element, said spout, being folded into said inoperatiile position when said outlet opening is covered by said rotatable element.

5. In a container for pourable material, the combination of: a wall having an opening therethrough; a rotatable element mounted on said wall for opening and closing said opening: a collapsible spout associated with said movable element, said spout comprising a pair of substantially triangular-shaped portions, an edge of one amasn of said portions being flexibly joined to the corresponding edge of the other of said portions to enable said portions to be folded fiat against each other or unfolded to form a spout, another edge otone of said portions being flexibly joined to said wall and the corresponding edge 01' the other of said portions .being flexibly Joined to said rotatable element, said spout being collapsed into inoperative position or expanded into operative relation with said wall opening in response to rotation of said element.

JAMES H. MORRISON. 

